The Beleura Cliff Path – a famous scenic walk
The Beleura Cliff Path leads from Caraar Creek Lane and Kalimna Drive to Mills Beach. The first section, near the top, was built in 1915, in time for an auction of blocks along the cliff top in January 1916. In 1922, some of the landowners on top of the cliff suggested to the Foreshore Committee of the Shire that the path could be extended to Mills Beach. They suggested the owners put in 45 pounds and the Foreshore Committee put in 35 pounds. In their letter to the Foreshore Committee, they made the point that the path would serve the general public as a scenic walk, as well as providing beach access for all. It was a win/win situation.
Wages being what they were in the those days, the 80 pounds was enough to employ a team of men with shovels and ponies to cut the path on a gradient of roughly 1:13, just as it is now, but without safety rails and without any sort of hard surface. The path quickly became popular with the public. Children on the path recall pressing up against the cliff-side as people rode their horses down the path to swim them at the beach!
As the population of the area has grown, so has the use of the path by walkers, joggers, sporting clubs for training, dog-walkers, beach-goers, and tourists. Many people take visitors for a walk along the path, which is renowned for its beautiful views and serenity. Public use is still increasing despite the official closure of the path after a small landslip which people walk around. The suburbanisation of large areas near Mornington, along Bungower Road and Bentons Road for example, has increased the demand for this unique scenic walk.
The path is an excellent grade for serious joggers, but no section is too steep for elderly people if they take their time. Its asphalt all the way, except for two boardwalk sections.
In 1869 Eugene Von Guerard set up his easel at what is now the top end of the path for his famous painting The Dandenongs from Beleura, now owned by the National Gallery of Victoria. In the front left of the painting you can see what looks like a dirt track heading off in the direction of the cliff.
Join the Friends of Beleura Cliff Path Facebook group and find out how and when you can volunteer.
Information about the Cliff path courtesy of Peter Nicholson
Orthomosaic photograph
The image below is an orthomosaic that is made up of over 300 photos and took over an hour to photograph. This photograph was taken in January 2023 and shows the full length of the Beleura Cliff Path. Use the buttons on the top left of the image to zoom in and pan across on the image.
Location
The path also goes by the names Caraar Creek Lane Walking Track and The Goat Track, but Beleura Cliff Path is the most usual.
Parts of the path are believed to follow much older footpaths used by the Bunurong people for thousands of years. They gathered shellfish along the rocky beaches you see from the path, and drank the fresh water of Caraar Creek, and Tanti Creek on Mills Beach.